Means and method of making nut blanks



July 9, 1940. R. 1.,. wlLcOx MEANS AND METHOD OF MAKING NUT BLANKS FiledMay 27, 1959 Il- .w wb xk mWn 5 w L y ,A N f m o um W mw WZ u m VAIR@ mA MJ i m f B W5 f m www! NN QN @www H zkockhw Mmmm.. QN Wh. NN hw; \\|Jmv Q E w mwhlwlwm"wv w m. \N ww um@ um www @WN Patented July 9, 1940MEANS AND METHOD F MAKING NUT BLANES Richard Lester Wilcox, Waterbury,Conn., as-

signor to The Waterbury Farrel Foundry and Machine Company, Waterb ury,Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application May 27, 1939, Serial No.276,038

23 claims.

'I'his invention is illustrated as applied to the production of nutblanks of the so-called D-type, wherein the blank is substantiallycylindrical,

with one or more diameters, and with one or more fiat sides, that aresubstantially parallel with the axis of the opening in the nut, the fiatside being, preferably, although not necessarily l5 formed upon aportion thereof having a diameter larger than the minimum, and wherebysuch portion is semi-cylindrical.

In the means land method herein disclosed, a portion of a wire length,cylindrical in cross section, is cut therefrom and successivelypresented to a plurality of stations, at each of which an operation isperformed thereon and by reason thereof the vnut blank in its completedform is produced. 25. As the means and method for threading the nutblank are old and well known, such means are not shown or describedherein. If desired, however, the nut blank may be transferred to a nutthreading machine for the threading operation.

To these and other ends, my invention consists of the means and methodfor' making a nut blank, as hereinafter described, and more particularlypointed out in the claims, reference being made to the drawing, whichillustrates a preferred form ofthe invention, and wherein like numeralsof reference indicate like parts in the several figures; I

Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of the improved means, theblanks in process being shown at some of the stations;

' Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of one of the punchholders and adjacent i parts, taken generally upon line 2-2 of Figure 1.Figure 3l is an enlarged view of the knife and a fragmentary sectionalview of some adjacent parts, taken generally upon line 3--3 of Figure1;.

Figures 6 to 9, inclusive, are views of the blank-A in process afterseveral successive operations thereon, some of these blanks being shownpartly in section; Figures 6B, 7, and 8 and 9' are end viewsrespectively of the blank as severally shown in Figures 6 to 9inclusive.

Figure 10 is a view of the nut blank in its completed form, partly insection. 5

Figure l0il is an end view thereof; Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentarysectional view of the punch and die mechanism at stationr2, with aportion of a blank positioned therein; and Figure 12 is a similar viewwith the punch and blank in 10 different relative positions.

'I'he means herein disclosed are preferably, although not necessarily,mounted in a header or upsetting machine, wherein a die block 5 is fixedin the body or frame IIlI of the header or 15 the like, as is usual, andhaving a gate or slide 98 that in the conventional header moves towardand away from the die block and carrying thereon a plurality of punchesand like tools.

In the die block 5 are a plurality of tools, the 20 shape and functionof which vary at the several stations, serially designated station I tostation 5, inclusive. I

At station I is a cut-off die 6, the outer end of which is substantiallyflushwith the face 1 of the die block 5, and the rear face of whichengages a backing block 8, and through which passes a wire'length 9*. Acut-off knife 53, actuated in a well known manner, severs that portionof thewire length 9 that projects in front of 30 the die block face 1,and producing a cylindrical piece 54, from which the completed nut blankis formed.

At station 2 is a bushing I0, backing block 8', die II, and between therear end thereof and the backing block 8' is a sleeve I2 guiding areciprocating punch I3, actuated in part by a knockout rod 96. 'I'hepressure end I4 of this punch is preferably shaped as the frustum of acone and the opposite end is fixed in a collar I5, between which and thecollar I5 is a spring I1.

In the formation of the nut blank herein shown, the punch end .I4 isshaped to conform generally with the shape ofthe recess in the end ofthe blank, in this case, `the frustum of a cone, but within thisinvention it `may vhave other shapes. The die II has a circular openingtherethrough, withthe walls 55 at the inner end flaring outwardly.

At station 3 is a bushing I8, a backing block 50 I 9 and `die 20,between which and the block I 9 is a sleeve 2 I. Movably mounted inthese parts is a punch 22, the outer end 23 being formed substantially,but not necessarily, in the shape of a'frustum ofa cone, as is thek endI4 of the 55 ing block 41.

punch I3. Between the punch collar 24 and the die 20 is a spring 25. Aknockout rod 99, through the pin |00, actuates the punch 22 in onedirection.

At station 4 a bushing 26 is threaded into the die block 5 and movablymounted therein is a die 21, its movement in one direction being limitedby the engagement of the shoulders 28 and 29. Concentric with the die'21is a backing block 81, and a bushing 30, and between a shoulder on thelatter and die 21 is a spring 3|. A punch quill 32 forms a guide for thepiercing punch 33, the outer end 34 thereof having a cross sectionsubstantially the same as the opening through the nut blank. The head 35of punch 33 is movable within a recess 36 in the bushing 30. A member31, within a recess 38 in the die 21 is 'moved in one direction by aplurality of springs 39, spaced about its axis and provides a supportfor the inner end of the punch quill 32. Surrounding the punch 33,between the bushing 30 and member 31, is a pressure plate 40. Between aknockout rod 42, actuated in the usual manner, and the pressure plate40, are one "or more pins 4|. A stop ring 56 limits the spacing betweenthe die 21 and bushing 30.

At station 5 is a sleeve 43, within which a die 44 is movably mounted.Concentric therewith is a sleeve 45, the flanged head of which engagesthe sleeve 43, and between which and the die 44 is a spring 46. Betweenthe head of the sleeve 45 and the rear face of the die block 5 is aback- Slidable in the die 44 and sleeve 45 is a pin 48, having acentering tip 51 at its outer end and a collar 49 or the like at. theinner end thereof which is engaged by the knockout rod 91. Mounted inthe sleeve 45 and slid- -able in the die 44, upon one side of the centerthereof, is a knife 5U, the inner face of which is substantially flushwith the ilat face 5| of the pin 48. One method of mounting the knife 50is shown in Figure 3, wherein the knife 59 is provided with a T-head 52,which projects into a T-slot in the sleeve 45. Other means, of course,may be used as seems desirable.

Upon the reciprocating gate are tools, which cooperate at the severallstations with those in the die block and above described, to perform anoperation upon the blank, such operations progressively shaping theblank to its final form.

Upon the face of the gate 98, of any conventional form, is a plate orthe like 58, upon which are adjustably mounted a plurality of punchholders 59 of like conventional form.

At station 2 a punch 60 is mounted in a bushing 6I, within a punchholder 59. The diameter of the outer end of this punch is substantiallythe same as that of the opening in the die II, into which it isprojected. As is usualwith this type of mechanism, the relative positionof the punch is varied through a backing block 63 by an adjustable plug62 adjustable endwise through wedge mechanism or the like. The punch 69is preferably provided with a head 64, one face of which is insubstantial engagement with the backing block 63 and is thus heldagainst endwise movement within the bushing 6I.

At station 3 apunch 65 is mounted in a punch holder 59, and betweenwhich and the backing plug 62 is a backing block 66. In the outer end ofpunch 65 is-` a recess, the walls of which are slightly tapered, and inthe bottom thereof is a member 61, preferably of hardened material, theouter face of lwhich is spaced inwardly from the outer face of the punch65. That portion of the recess between the face of the punch 65 and themember 61 is the same as the larger portion of the finished nut andwherein it is shaped.

Movable within punch 65 and member 61 is a pin 69, the inner end ofwhich engages the head of spring rod 1I, which is movable within therecess 10 and encircled by a coil spring 12.

At station 4 a bushing 13 is mounted in a punch holder 5,9, in which isa punch 18, between which and the backing block 14 is an adjustablysecured member 15, on one side of which is a recess 16, having a curvedwall opposite a slot 11 in the bushing 13, which likewise registers withan opening 19 in the punch holder (Figure 2). Through punch 18 is anopening 80 which registers with the recess 16.

At station 5 a punch 8| is held within a bushing 82 mounted in a punchholder 59, one end of which engages the backing block 83. The outer endof the punch 8| is reduced substantially to the outside diameter of thefinished nut, with one side 84 flattened substantially parallel with thepunch axis.

The bushing 13 is secured against movement by a screw 85 and the member15 against rotation by a dowel pin 86 or the like, which projects into aslot in said member and insures registering of the recess 16 with slot11.

In operation, the rod 9 is fed through the die 6 by any well known meansuntil the end thereof advances in front of the face 1 of the die block 5a predetermined distance, determined by a stop or other device. Thecut-off knife 53, moved in a well known manner, severs the projectingportion of the rod, which now becomes a cylindrical blank (Figure 5).This blank is then carried by transfer means into register with thetools at station 2. As the gate moves toward the die block, the punch 66pushes the blank into the opening in the die II and the inner endthereof, during its advance, engages the then stationary end I4 of thepunch I3. Such engagement causes the metal of the blank, during thefurther advance thereof into the die, to flow outwardly at said innerend, toward the arlng walls 55, and simultaneously indenting orrecessing the blank, which is now shaped, as shown in Figure 6. As thepunch 60 is withdrawn, punch I3 is advanced by the knockout rod 96,returning the blank through and out of the die II. While being returnedthrough the die, the outwardly` flaring walls of the blank are drawninwardly to substantially its original outside uniform diameter and atthe same time, due to the tapered punch end I4, thins the walls 88 ofthe recess at the outer ends, as at 89. the recess 90 is deepened, andthe blank lengthened. The shape of the blank after this operation isshown in Figure '7. It is thereafter transferred into line with thetools at station 3. At this time the pin 69 which is projected beyondthe face of punch 65 by spring 12, engages the blank and moves it out ofthe transfer mechanism into the recess of the die 20 against punch 22,and in advance of the punch 65. This permits the transfer mechanism toclear the punch 65 as it advances. At this operat'ion, the exterior ofthe blank is reshaped, the portion 92 thereof being formed in the recessin the die with the portion 93 being formed in the recess in the punch65. As so formed, the portion 92 is of less diameter than the portion63. The exterior walls of both portions may be substantially parallelwith the axis of the blank or tapered. Other shapes may be provided, forwhich the die and punch will be suitably formed.

' slightly flaring, the :flow of the metal at this station is withoutstrain upon the tools.

The member 61 in punch 65 provides a hardened surface to receive theupsetting pressure that otherwise might break the punch. As punch 65 iswithdrawn, knockout pin 69 ejects the blank therefrom and knockout pin22 elects the blank from the die 20. The blankis now carried byvtransfer mechanism to station' 4, where it is pushed out of thetransfer mechanism by the punch 18 and into a recess in the face of thedie 21, which yields againstI the tension oi' the spring 3l until itengages the stop ring 56. The recess in the face of the die,21 issubstantially the same as the exterior shape of the blank as it leavesstation 3. When the parts are in the position described, the punch 33,with its head 35 in contact with the backing block 81, is in a xedposition, when punch 18 pushes the blank, in the form shown in Figure 8,into the recess of die 21, and then with the blank pushing the die 21,compressing the spring 3|, over the end of the piercing punch, thuspiercing a hole in the blank by the then stationary punch 33. 'Ihe slugs94 formed by this operation escape through the opening 80, recess 16,slot 11 and opening 19, into a receptacle -conveniently arranged toreceive them.

Asthe punch 18 is withdrawn the blank remains between the end thereofand the die 21 until the face of die 21 is substantially flush with theface 1 of the die block 5, at which time the shoull ders 28 and 29 arein contact with each other.

Thereafter, the punch 18 continues its withdrawal movement and theknockout rod actuates the quill 32 and the blank is ejected from therecess in the die 21 and is received by and carried to station 5 by thetransfer mechanism. At this station the blank is. ejected from thetransfer mechanism into the recess in die M by the punch The blank issupported by the punch 8i and the pin 88, the outer end of whichprojects into the recess in the blank. As the movement of the punch 8icontinues, a portion of the larger diameter of the blank is sheared onby theknife 5d as the blank passes the cutting edge thereof. During thisshearing operation the tip 84 of the punch 8l forms an anvil for theshearing knife. The sheared portion 9i of the blank 5i drops out into areceptacle conveniently arranged to receive it. After being shearedtheblank has a substantially flat face 95. as shown in Figure 10B.

The wall left on the blank, after the severed portion or portions, isremoved, may be substantially straight, as shown,.or any other suitableshape, as may seem desirable. Such wall is nonconforming, that is, doesnot conform to the shape of the remaining portion of the blank fromwhich the severed portion is removed. More than one side of the blankmay be cut away within this invention.

Thus, by theinvention disclosed, nut blanks of the D-nut type are madeat relatively high speed and with the minimum loss of material, thisloss being the portion of the blank removed by the piercing punch andthat portion that is taken oi by the shearing knife.

Within the scope of the appended claims, minor changes and alterationsmay be made within the time expanding the exterior of the blank adjacentthereto, then restoring the exterior of the blank to its originalcylindrical form and deepening the recess, thereafter upsetting theblank without eliminating the recess, and piercing a 5 holetherethrough, these several steps being continuous and simultaneouslyperformed on separate blanks in the same machine.

2. The method of producing a nut blank, or the like, from a solid pieceby forming a recess in one end thereof by pressure and at the same timeexpanding the exterior of the blank adjacent thereto, then restoring theexterior of the blank to its original cylindrical form and deepening therecess, upsetting the blank without eliminating thel recess, piercing ahole therethrough, and severing a portion of the exterior of the blankand thereby producing a nonconforming portion, these several steps beingcontinuous and simultaneously performed on separate blanks in the samemachine. l

3. 'I'he step in producing a nut blank, or the like, which consists informing a recess in one end of a headless blank and expanding theexterior thereof at the same end while in a die and then restoring theexterior shape of the blank and at the same time deepening the recesswhile in the same die and simultaneously and by separate tools reshapingthe exterior of the blank whose exterior was last expanded and restored.

4. The step in producing a nut blank, or vthe like, which consists informing a recess in one end of a headless blank and expanding theexterior thereof at the same end While in a die and'then restoring theexterior shape of the blank and at the same time deepening the recesswhile in the same die, the wall around the recess being thicker at itsbase than at its oppositeend and simultaneously and by separate toolsreshaping the exterior of the blank whose exterior was last expanded andrestored.

5. The method of producing a nut blank, or the like from a solid pieceby forming a recess in one end thereof by endwise pressure andsimultaneously expanding that portion of the solid piece adjacent to therecess, then by a vdrawing process reducing such expanded portion sothat its shape and size are substantially the same as that of the solidpiece before being expanded, and simultaneously deepening the recess,then shaping the exterior of the blank withouteliminatng the recesswhereby to form plural portions of varying diameter, piercing a holethrough the blank, and then severing a portion of the exterior of theblank and producing a non-conforming portion, these several stepsbeingcontinuous and simultaneously performed on separate blanks inv thesame machine.

6. Mechanism for making a nut blank, or. the like, comprising in part adie having an opening therein that flares outwardly at one end; means asecond die spaced from the first mentioned die and a cooperating punch,whereby the exterior of the blank will be reshaped in the second die.

7.' Mechanism for' making a nut blank, or the like, comprising in part adie having an opening therein that ilares outwardly at one end; meansfor projecting a headless blank into the small end of the opening; andmeans engaged by the end of the blank while in the opening to expand thesame into said flaring portion of the opening and form a recess therein,which means will thereafter move the blank in a reverse directionthrough the opening and discharge same therefrom at the point ofentrance and with the same exterior original shape, in combination witha second die spaced from the rst mentioned die and a cooperating punch,whereby the exterior of the blank will be reshaped in the second die.

8. Mechanism for making a nut blank, or the like, comprising in part adie having an opening therein that flares outwardly at one end; meansfor projecting a headless blank into the small end of the opening; andmeans engaged by the end of the blank while in the opening to expand thesame into such ilaring portion of the opening, which means willthereafter move the blank in a reverse direction through the opening anddischarge same at the point of entrance and with the same exteriororiginal shape and a deepened recess, in combination with a second diespaced from the rst mentioned die and a cooperating punch, whereby theexterior of the. blank will be reshaped in the second die.

9. In mechanism for making a nut blank, or the like, by pressure,comprising a plurality of companion tools at a plurality of independentstations, the tools at one station expanding the blank at one end,reshaping it and forming a recess in such end, at another shaping theexterior thereof, without distorting the recess, at another piercing ahole therein, and at another station cutting off a portion of the blank,all of the parts being so arranged that the operations are performedcontinuously and simultaneously on a separate blank at each station.

10. In mechanism for making a nut blank, or the like, by pressure,comprising a plurality of companion tools at a plurality of independentstations, the tools at one station expanding one end of the blank andthen reducing the expanded portion to the exterior shape of thenon-expanded portion, and forming a recess in one end of the blank, atanother shaping the exterior thereof, at another piercing a holetherein, and at another station cutting off a portion of the blank, allof the parts being so arranged that an operation is performed on aseparate blank at each station.

11. Mechanism for making nut blanks, or the like, comprising in part arigid die with an opening therethrough of substantially uniform diameterthat flares outwardly at its inner end; a punch concentric with saidopening, the outer end of which in one of its positions projects intothe -flaring portion of the opening; means for actuating the punchwhereby one end thereof will move through said opening' and push aheadless blank in advance thereof; and means for moving the punch in theopposite direction and withdrawing the same from the opening, incombination with 'a second die spaced from the first-mentioned die and acooperating punch, whereby the exterior of the blank will be reshaped inthe second die.

12. Mechanism for making nut blanks, or the like, comprising in part arigid die with an opening therethrough of substantially uniform diameterthat flares outwardly at its inner end; a punch concentric with saidopening, the outer end of which in one of its positions projects intothe flaring portion of the opening; meansfor actuating the punch wherebyone end thereof will move through said opening and push a headless blankin advance thereof; and resilient means for moving the punch in theopposite direction and withdrawing the same from the opening andsimultaneously and by separate tools reshaping the exterior of the blankwhose exterior was last expanded and restored.

13. Mechanism for making nut blanks, or the like, comprising in part axed bushing, or the like; a die movable therein having an openingtherethrough, a concentric recess in the outer end thereof of the sameconilguration as a portion of the blank, and a larger recess in the rearend thereof; a quill movable within the opening in the die; means forpositively imparting movement to the quill in one direction, comprisingin part one or more pins and a knockout member engaged thereby; apiercing punch movable in said quill for piercing a hole in the blank;and resilient means for moving the die whereby its front face may be ina predetermined position and the recess in the outer end of the dieready to receive a blank.

14. Mechanism for making nut blanks, or the like, comprising in part amovable die; a piercing punch movable therein; a punch having an openingtherethrough mounted so as to move toward and away from the die; aholding member for the punch having means for deflecting the slug cutfrom the blanks by the piercing punch out of the path of the tools.

15. Mechanism for making nut blanks, or the like, comprising in part amovable die; a piercing punch movable therein; a punch having an openingtherethrough, mounted so as to move toward and away from the die; and aholding member for the punch having a recess therein with a wall fordeiiecting the slug cut from the blank by the piercing punch out of thepath of the tools.

16. Mechanism for making nut blanks, or the like, comprising in part amovably mounted die having an opening therethrough and a recess in oneend thereof concentric therewith, a separably mounted knife, with thecutting edge thereof substantially ush with the face of the die andextending in part across the recess, the combination therewith of apunch movably mounted within the die; and a companion punch movableaxially toward and away therefrom.

17. The step in producing a nut blank, or the like, which consists informing a recess in one end of a headless blank and expanding theexterior thereof at the same end and then restoring the exterior shapeof the blank and at the same time deepening the recess, said expandingand restoring being accomplished while the blank is moved in oppositedirections in the same die and simultaneously and by separate toolsreshaping the exterior of the blank whose exterior was last expanded andrestored.

18. The step in producing a recess in one end of a nut blank, whichconsists in moving a headless blank into a die and by pressure forming arecess in one end of less than the predetermined depth and then movingthe blank in the die, in the reverse direction, and at the same timedeepening the recess to its full depth and simultaneously and byseparate tools reshaping the exterior of the blank whose exterior waslast expanded and restored.

19. The step in producing a nut blank, or the like, which consists informing a recess in one end of a headless blank and expanding theexterior thereof at the same end and then restoring the exterior shapeof the blank and at the same time deepening the recess, all in the samedie and while the blank is moving in opposite directions therein.

20. The step in producing a recess in one end of a n ut blank, whichconsists in moving a headless blank into a die and by pressure forming arecess in one end of less than the predetermined depth and then by adrawing process deepening the recess to its full depth while the blankis moving out of the die.

21. The step in producing a recess in one end of a nut blank, whichconsists in moving a headless blank into a die and by pressure forming arecess in one end of 'less than the predetermined depth and then by adrawing process deepening the recess to its full depth and thinning thewalls of the recess while the blank is moving out of the die.

22. 'Ihe method of producing a nut blank, or the like, from a solidcylindrical piece, by plural operations performed by separate sets oftools arranged so that an operation is simultaneously performed on aseparate blank by each set of tools, and comprising rst, expanding oneend of the cylindrical piece and at the same time forming a recess insaid end, then reforming the exterior of the blank to its originalcylindrical shape, then reshaping the exterior of the blank so that itwill have plural diameters, then piercing a hole through the blank, andnally removing a portion of the blank and producing a nonconformingsurface upon the exterior thereof.

23. In mechanism for performing several steps in the making of a nutblank, or the like, by pressure, comprising a plurality of companiontools at a plurality of independent stations, the tools at one stationexpanding one end of the blank and then reducing the expanded portion tothe exterior shape of the non-expanded portion, and forming a recess inone end of the blank, and at another station reshaping the exterior ofthe previously formed blank, all of the parts being so 20 arranged thatan operation is performed on a separate blank at each station.

RICHARD LESTER WILCOX.

